The Hollow by Agatha Christie

"The Hollow" by Agatha Christie. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2002.

There is a gathering of distant cousins, friends and their families at Lady Lucy and Sir Henry Angkatell's estate, 'The Hollow'. Guests include Midge - Lucy's cousin, Dr. John and his beautiful but stupid wife Gerda, Henrietta - a sculptor, Edward Angkatell, another cousin David and Hercule Poirot. Veronica, John's ex, also gate crashes.

There's a murder. Who is murdered? What is the motive? Whodunit?

It's a typical Agatha mystery with a large house of rich people, many characters, murder in the house, many suspects, scattered clues and mystery.

What I liked most of this book was the fantastic characterization. It's an assortment of peculiar characters. Lucy who is absent minded, vague, has hyper active mind. Henrietta who is devoted to work, slightly ruthless, in love with John. Gerda who is slow and stupid, but not as much as everyone thinks. Dr. John, a magnet for women, who has had a number of affairs and is passionate about finding cure to Ridgway's decease. Edward who is book lover and would not marry if not Henrietta, Veronica a typical egotistical star who gets what she wants with her charm etc.

The interrelations between characters are also curious. There are tangled feelings of love, care, protectiveness, sympathy between the characters. Some questions remain with the readers. Why John did not marry Henrietta? Why did John marry Gerda? Why did Gerda worship John? Why Henrietta cared for Gerda? Did Edward love Midge?

While reading the book I learned a new word Yggdrasil. Search for the meaning yourself :) !!

One important thing that is almost missing from this book is the investigation, that tantalizing cat and mouse game, gathering of clues and deductive reasoning. Readers are left unsatisfied because murder mystery is not only about finding the murderer but also the process of finding the murderer. The mystery is revealed on its own. As a result Hercule Poirot's role is much smaller as compared to other Agatha mysteries. End is also unconvincing.

The buildup is good but then the remaining story and climax does not live up to the expectation. I sort of fizzles out.

An OK book. Not a must read.

The curse of Surya by Dev Prasad

"The curse of Surya" by Dev Prasad. This book is published by Random house India in 2015 and has 304 pages.

An operative of Tibet liberation front is murdered in The Krishna janmasthan temple in Mathura where location of 'The Shyamantaka' (largest gem in the world), that went missing for 5000 years, was going to be revealed. Every country & every underground organization is after it. A beautiful Indian reporter working for Singaporean channel, a British man and an American man are hunted by Indian police.

Who are these people? Why are police after them? Where is Shyamantaka? Will it be found? Who will find it?

The story is built around the legend of Shyamantaka, a gem considered to be the largest in the world. It was gifted by Sun to Satrajit and Lord Krishna was accused of steeling it. Since Shyamantaka is from the period of Krishna, all clues and places are also related to Krishna. It's a tour of Brijbhoomi and Dwaraka.

Author has used the idea of same set of clues leading to two different solutions and then one set of clues leading to another and so on. So it becomes an intriguing treasure hunt.

The book contains riddles, clues hidden in the mythology, history and art work, an expert, a smuggler, race against time, bad guys waiting for good guys to find treasure, treachery etc. It feels like reading an Indian Dan Brown book.

Author's description of underwater events is like above water one. Under water constraints and considerations are absent. Author shows paintings, murals and metallic components functioning perfectly after being under sea for 5000 years. This is not palatable.

The climax is also a bit of anti climax. The mastermind behind all the events, when revealed, fails to make an impact. Chinese angle is interesting but remains undeveloped.

Characterization is decent. Sangeeta steals the show. Alan is good but why he carries his identity card on an undercover mission is beyond comprehension. Why Nish has a sudden change of heart is also unclear and how easily she is duped by SMS is baffling.

All in all, a good book. Read if you have time.

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

"Towards Zero", a murder mystery by Agatha Christie. 

This is one of the rare Agatha Christi novels where neither Hercule Poirot nor Miss Marple appear. The detective is Superintendent Battle.

A man visiting a widow at her estate dies and the widow is murdered. A number of guests, relatives and accomplices are in the house and everyone seems to be a murderer. Story goes through ups and downs, twists and turns and reaches climax to reveal the killer.

As typical of Agatha, a number of small clues scattered around the book like bread crumbs converge in the climax. A classic whodunit.

This story has a lot of characters; as is usual for Agatha novels. You have to concentrate hard in the beginning till all the characters are introduced and their relations to others are established.

Although the name has modest relevance to story, it has all the characteristics of usual Agatha mystery and keeps you interested till the end.

Although '10 little Indians' or 'Murder on orient express' are better, recommend reading this one.